Mental Health/Addiction Counseling - A.A.S. Degree/Certificate
Begin Your Career in Mental Health and Addiction Counseling
Do you have a passion for helping others and making a meaningful difference in your community? A career in mental health, human services, or addiction counseling may be the right path for you.
Alvin College’s Mental Health and Addiction Counseling program provides students with the knowledge, practical skills, and supervised field experience needed to support individuals and families affected by mental health concerns and substance use.
Students can prepare for careers in a variety of settings, including treatment programs, behavioral health centers, community agencies, recovery programs, correctional facilities, and other human service organizations.
The program offers degree and certificate pathways designed to help students:
- Build foundational counseling and helping skills
- Learn about mental health, substance use, treatment, and recovery
- Gain real-world experience through supervised fieldwork
- Prepare to pursue registration and licensure as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor in Texas
- Develop the confidence and professional skills needed to begin a meaningful career
Students who complete the required coursework and practicum may meet the educational requirements to apply for registration as a counselor intern and continue working toward full LCDC licensure through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Additional testing, supervised work experience, and licensing requirements apply.
Whether you are beginning college, changing careers, or building upon your own lived experience, you do not have to have everything figured out before you begin. Our faculty are committed to helping you understand the process, develop your strengths, and take the next step toward a career centered on helping others.
Your experience can become purpose. Your compassion can become a career.
Start your journey at Alvin College.
Your Past Can Become Part of Your Purpose
Many of our students have experienced their own recovery journeys and discovered a passion for helping others. Lived experience can provide valuable insight, empathy, and hope, and your past does not have to prevent you from pursuing a meaningful career.
Having a criminal or legal history does not automatically prevent you from participating in the program or becoming licensed. However, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission reviews criminal histories individually, and certain offenses may affect eligibility for LCDC-I registration, licensure, field placement, or employment.
If you have questions about how your history may affect your educational or career goals, we encourage you to contact the Texas HHSC Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program or the Department Chair, Monica Mehalshick, PhD, LCSW-S, for additional information and guidance.
Train to be a Substance Abuse Counselor at Alvin College
Do you have a passion to help people in emotional or psychological need or those that abuse alcohol or drugs? If so, a career as Human Service Professional or Substance Abuse Counselor may be for you. Alvin College’s Mental Health and Addiction Counseling Department offers students the opportunity to meet license requirements for chemical dependency counseling (LCDC) and/or to work in a variety of human services environments. Students who complete courses and field work required in each program will meet the eligibility requirements of the Texas Department of State Health Services to take the licensure exams for Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. Alvin College is a founding member of the South Southwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC). The consortium’s mission is to increase the number of minority counselors in publicly funded chemical dependency treatment centers and to upgrade the quality of counselor education.
Career Opportunities
Human Services Professionals and Substance Abuse Counselors have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Graduates may pursue careers in residential and outpatient treatment programs, mental health and community-based organizations, correctional settings, recovery programs, and other human service agencies. Wherever you choose to work, your skills can help others find hope, build resilience, and move toward lasting change.
Career Data
What Will I Study?
The Associate of Applied Science in Mental Health and Addiction Counseling combines classroom learning with practical, hands-on experience. Students develop knowledge and skills in counseling, mental health, substance use, recovery, case management, crisis intervention, and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The program prepares graduates to begin working under supervision in mental health, addiction counseling, and other human service settings while continuing to complete applicable professional and licensure requirements.
Curriculum Guide - Mental Health and Addiction Counseling, A.A.S./ Certificate
- The schedule of fees is:
- initial LCDC application fee--$25, in addition to any fees assessed under subsection (e) of this section;
- initial LCDC licensure fee--$75, plus a surcharge of $10 to fund one or more approved peer assistance programs and administrative costs of the department related to peer assistance programs;
- LCDC renewal and renewal application fee--$115, plus a surcharge of $10 to fund one
or more approved peer assistance programs and administrative costs of the department
related to peer assistance programs, in addition to any fees assessed under subsection
(e) of this section:
- late renewal penalty fee (up to 90 days after the license expiration date)--$37.50;
- late renewal penalty fee (between 91 days and one year after the license expiration date)--$75;
- background investigation fee--$40;
- inactive status fee--$50;
- licensure certificate replacement or duplication fee--$10;
- returned check fee--$25;
- clinical supervisor initial and renewal application and certification fee--$20; and
- criminal history evaluation letter fee--$50.
- The department may contract or enter into a memorandum of understanding with a person to administer the LCDC licensure examination, and the fee charged by that person is subject to change. The current fee shall be printed in the examination registration form. Examination fees shall be paid directly to the contract organization administering the examination.
- Licensure fees paid to the department are not refundable.
- Fees shall be paid in full with a personal check, cashier's check, commercial check, or money order.
- For all new and renewal applications, the department is authorized to collect subscription and convenience fees in amounts determined by the Texas Online Authority to recover costs associated with new and renewal application processing through texas.gov. The fees may be paid with a credit card when applying for or renewing a license online.
CHAPTER 140 HEALTH PROFESSIONS REGULATION
SUBCHAPTER I LICENSED CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELORS
RULE § 140.403 Fees
Schedule of Fees
- Initial LCDC application fee $25
- Initial LCDC licensure fee $75
- Surcharge to fund one or more approved peer assistance programs $10
- LCDC renewal and renewal application fee $115
- Surcharge to fund one or more approved peer assistance programs $10
- Late renewal penalty (up to 90 days after license expiration date) $37.50
- Late renewal penalty (91 days-1 year after license expiration date) $75
- Background investigation fee $40
- Inactive status fee $50
- Licensure certificate replacement or duplication fee $20
- Returned check fee $25
- Examination fee will vary; printed on the examination registration form
Fees shall be paid in full with a personal check, cashier’s check, commercial check, or money order.
For all new and renewal applications, the department is authorized to collect subscription and convenience fees in amounts determined by the Texas Online Authority to recover costs associated with new and renewal application processing through Texas.gov. The fees may be paid with a credit card when applying for ore renewing a license online.
Approximate costs for the Mental Health and Addiction Counseling A.A.S. Degree program
including tuition and fees are approximately $4,944 for in-district students, $8,004
for out-of-district students, and $11,184 for non-residents.
Additional fees for books and supplies are approximately $300. The cost for the Licensed
Chemical Dependency Counselor licensure examination is approximately $250.
Approximate costs for the Certificate 1 in Mental Health and Addiction Counseling are approximately $3,273 for in-district students, $4,956 for out-of-district students, and $6,705 for non-residents.
Approximate costs for the Certificate 2 in Mental Health and Addiction Counseling are approximately, $4,656 for in-district students, $6,645 for out-of-district students, and $9,189 for non-residents.
*Alvin College may change tuition rates and other fees without notice or when so directed by the Board of Regents.
COLLEGE & CAREER PATHWAYS
Mental Health & Addiction Counseling is part of our Health Career Pathway. Click the box below to see other Health programs that may interest you.